Anita Dufalla – illustratör

Penny tries to hang with the Coin Clique, but she usually feels left out. The other coins, especially Quarter and Half Dollar are best friends, do everything together, and tell Penny she isn't worth much. Then one day Penny lands in a pocket with the beautiful, gold dollar coin. Dollar is different from the silver coins too, and she starts to teach Penny how special and valuable she really is. With Dollar's help, Penny learns to feel as shiny on the inside as she looks on the outside. CLIQUES JUST DON'T MAKE CENTS is the second children's book in the Building Relationships series and helps kids understand the emotional toll that cliques can have on those who are excluded from popular social groups. It also teaches children how to build better relationships by accepting differences, including others, and making friends.

A fresh approach to a dirty dilemma. How do you make young children understand the importance of bathing and brushing? In this ingenious tale, young readers are sure to get the message that good hygiene will improve their health and their relationships! The story centres around a fork named Jean who hates taking baths in the sink and detests showering in the dishwasher. It's a clever fable with a timeless message.

My name is Norman David Edwards… but everybody calls me “Noodle.” Sometimes things happen to me that get me into trouble. But it's not my fault! Poor Noodle. Things just don't seem to be going his way. But it's not his fault! Award-winning author, Julia Cook's newest title, the first in the new Responsible Me! series, follows Noodle through a very rough day at school. It just isn't his fault that his brother's game ran late and he didn't finish his homework. Or that his mum forgot to remind him to return his library book. Or that Mary Gold invaded his personal space and hit his arm with her head. Luckily, Noodle's mum is there to teach him about the importance of accepting responsibility. Join Noodle on his journey as he learns not to blame others or try to find fault, but instead, practises accepting responsibility and turns his very rough day into a very good NEW day!

So much in Noodle's life just stinks! Homework stinks. Practice stinks. Yard work stinks. And family pictures? They REALLY stink! Luckily, Noodle's mum and teacher are there to help him understand how his bad attitude, or “baditude,” is affecting his mood and those around him. Even his friends are starting to avoid him! If only he can stop looking at everything so negatively, more positive results will follow! Join Noodle as he learns to turn his “I have to's” into “I get to's”, his frown into a smile and his “badtitude” into “gratitude”! The newest title in the Responsible Me! series.

Written from the table's point of view, this humorous tale will help kids understand that table manners are about more than just eating politely. When you use good table manners, you are being respectful, kind and considerate of others and their feelings.

The flower patch has always been the same. Purples hang with other Purples. Blues hang with Blues. Talls hang with Talls. Shorts hang with Shorts. But when Purple moves into the Blue Patch, Blue just isn't sure how he feels about that! Fortunately, Blue's Mum is around to point out how much Blue and his friends can learn from the wind, the rain and the bees, who treat all flowers the same. Will Blue start to see things from a different lens? Find out in award-winning author Julia Cook's timely and important tale teaching the skill of valuing the differences of others.

Award winning children's author, Julia Cook, has crafted another tale of her character Noodle facing the realities of childhood. In PROCRASTINATOR, Noodle learns the importance of doings things right away when his mother (and teacher) asks him to do them, rather than putting them off till later. As Noodle's week progresses his cat gets hungrier, the rubbish piles up and his poetry homework is no closer to getting done. Noodle keeps choosing to do the things he wants to do, rather than the things he needs to do. Beautifully illustrated by artist, Anita Dufalla, PROCRASTINATOR is a humorous and engaging look at the results of a child only doing what is fun to do, rather than what needs to be done. The story ends with Noodle completing his poetry homework on time with each poem expressing his commitment not to be a procrastinator again.

Don't be mean! That's the wise, straight-to-the-point advice "Screen" has for young readers who are active on social media. Whether tapping out messages on their computers, tablets or phones, Screen wants kids to know their words will follow them for life or at least a very, very long time. Every post creates a digital trail that can't be erased. So any snarky putdown or unkind comment can come back to bite them, bury their relationships and batter their reputations! THE TECHNOLOGY TAIL offers a timeless message to a new generation just learning how to navigate the fast-changing digital age. This storybook uses rhymes and colourful illustrations to grab children's attention. There are, also, tips for parents and teachers who want to reinforce kindness and respect in a high-tech world.

Zak is obsessed with watches. Before that it was trains. He owns hundreds of watches and is quick to tell everyone everything about them. Zak, also, has autism, so he sometimes responds to the world around him in unconventional ways. As Zak describes his point of view, young readers gain a better understanding of his behaviour and learn valuable lessons about patience, tolerance and understanding. Parents, teachers and youth workers can use this book to help teach kids tolerance and acceptance when meeting children living with autism spectrum disorder.  Beautiful illustrations and tips added to the end of the book help kids understand the message of the story.

Noodle is always being told what to do. Weed the garden. Make his bed. Kick the ball a certain way in football. Ugh! But he wonders, why? What's in it for him? Luckily, the adults in Noodle's life are there to teach him about the importance of practising small chores now and help him see the bigger picture.

Decibella is so loud, she's hurting ears, startling wait staff, disrupting classmates, and annoying moviegoers. She doesn't realize different environments and situations sometimes demand a softer, quieter voice. That is until a caring teacher introduces her to the silly-sounding word Slurpadoodleand the five volumes of voice (Whisper, 6-inch, Table Talk, Strong Speaker, and Outside). With a little practice, patience, and persistence, can Decibella become a voice volume expert? Or will her volume be permanently stuck on shout? A special page written specifically for parents and educators offers insightful and practical strategies to help children understand when and how to have a proper voice volume. Fans of the original story will find more inclusive, empathetic, and empowering dialogue and situations in this revised second edition!

Noodle is having a rough couple of days. The rules keep getting in the way of his fun! Rules for this and rules for that. There are so many rules - too many rules! Rules stink! And Noodle struggles because he doesn't think many of them actually apply to HIM! Can't he just have a rule-free day? Author. Julia Cook's newest book in the Responsible Me! series will have readers in stitches as Noodle describes the variety of rules he deals with daily. Will Noodle's mother and teacher convince him that rules are meant to help, not harm, him?